living word - amazon s3featured this month : 90 minutes in heaven by don piper 90 minutes in heaven...
TRANSCRIPT
January 2020
LIVING WORD Lutheran Church of Alexandria, LCMC
Through the power of the Holy Spirit
we are growing, Sharing, and living
in God’s Word, Jesus Christ
320-762-1997 Office Hours T-Th 8:30a.m. —12:30 p.m.
[email protected] OR [email protected]
1722 16th Avenue East, Alexandria, MN
www.livingwordalexmn.org 320-762-1997
Christmas Yet
“…behold, Magi [wise observers] from the East came to Jerusalem…” [Matthew 2:1]
By now, the year 2020 has become the focus of the world. Christmas is over and done with, gifts given and
got, appreciated or returned. Time to move on, to recover from the expenses of money, time and postage. We
have the New Year coming, and there’s work ahead.
Wait a minute. Though some have pushed the Magi moment out of the scene with the tree, there’s more.
Check it out for yourself, and you will find the stable is NOT all there is to this season. Shepherds, angels,
Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in that dark, smelly shed have moved on. Unlike Christmas lights, their lives
are not put up as figures in frozen postures until Advent. Life went on ahead for all these real, live people in
real space and time.
The Magi were the scientists of their time, critical observers of life, earth and sky. On what they determine
to be a momentous event, proclaimed by the heavens, they acted. Something seen in an unexpected star led
them hundreds of miles from home to Jerusalem. They told people whom they sought: the King of the Jews,
“for we have seen his star…” “His star” tells you and me they have put lots of things together to reach this
conclusion.
No one even now knows the details, only their deliberation: there’s another king present. This evaluation,
from very respected foreign intellectuals raised havoc in Jerusalem. King Herod played his caution close to
the vest, as his viziers confirmed the claim. A ruler would come from Bethlehem, to govern the people of Is-
rael. This news was bad news, extending throughout Herod’s administration to the city itself. Herod must
stop this rival “king” before he developed a following, but he had to be careful. These Magi are told to find
this new king and bring Herod the word that he might worship him. (Worth-ship is precisely what he has in
mind; he would indeed give this infant proper place!)
“When they had heard the king, they went their way… and going into the house…” Joseph is a carpenter, a
new Dad, and he and Mary had moved from the stable to a house. There the Magi found a toddler, with Mary
his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. They offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh, profound
riches that travel easily even today. This treasure would serve the fledgling family well for, soon as the kings
leave, there’s trouble. Herod was NOT informed by these Magi, who head directly for home. The result is a
slaughter in Bethlehem of boys under the age of two, at Herod’s direction. But Jesus, Mary and Joseph have
already left, with the resources afforded them by the Magi. Just as God delivered them from death, so Christ
Jesus delivers you, forgiving all your sins. You have all that’s necessary for your deliverance, timely given in
Jesus our Savior, even yet.
~ Peace, Pastor Nate
Sunday Morning Bible Study
All are welcome to Sunday Morning Bible Study that meets at 10:20am
and concludes at 11:00am. Focus in on “Discipleship”, a study written
by Stephen King. Dave Moeller will be leading this study.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
The Tuesday morning Bible Study is in Ephesians. Bible study begins
at 9:00 am and is open to anyone who wants to participate. There is
always coffee, tea, snacks and great conversation.
Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study
Our current study, “One for All - Experiencing the Exclusive Claim of
Christ”, is thought provoking. Come and join us for reflection and
conversation. There is never a dull moment with this group, so men,
come and join in the fun!!
WOW Bible Study
Women of the Word Study is ongoing and meets the first Thursday of
the month at 2:00pm. All women are welcome and bring a friend.
Check their section in the newsletter or our webpage for more infor-
mation.
Read The Bible In A Year
The LWLC Adult Education Commit-
tee is encouraging all members to get
involved in “Reading Through the
Bible in a Year”. The Scripture read-
ings for each month are included in
the monthly newsletter. Please consid-
er taking part in this exciting adven-
ture and encourage others to do so as
well. We can be assured that “God’s
Word does not return void” (Isaiah
55:11) As you read, pray, asking God
to open your heart to His Word.
January1 ..................... Genesis 1-3
January 2 .................... Genesis 4-7
January 3 .................. Genesis 8-11
January 4 ................ Genesis 12-16
January 5 ................ Genesis 17-19
January 6 ................ Genesis 20-23
January 7 ................ Genesis 24-25
January 8 ................ Genesis 26-28
January 9 ................ Genesis 29-30
January 10 .............. Genesis 31-33
January 11 .............. Genesis 34-36
January 12 .............. Genesis 37-39
January 13 .............. Genesis 40-42
January 14 .............. Genesis 43-45
January 15 .............. Genesis 46-47
January 16 .............. Genesis 48-50
January 17 ...................Exodus 1-4
January 18 ...................Exodus 5-7
January 19 .................Exodus 8-10
January 20 ...............Exodus 11-13
January 21 ...............Exodus 14-16
January 22 ...............Exodus 17-20
January 23 ...............Exodus 21-23
January 24 ...............Exodus 24-27
January 25 ...............Exodus 28-30
January 26 ...............Exodus 31-34
January 27 ...............Exodus 35-37
January 28 ...............Exodus 38-40
January 29 ................ Leviticus 1-4
January 30 ................ Leviticus 5-7
January 31 .............. Leviticus 8-11
Adult Education
Hear God’s Word at LWLC
Sunday: 9:00am Worship
10:00am Fellowship/Refreshments
10:10am Kids Corner (2nd Sunday of the month)
10:20am Bible Study
11:00am Faith Fervor Worship
Tuesday: 9:00am Adult Bible Study
Wednesday: 8:30am Men’s Bible Study
1st Annual Kiddo Friday was a success. We had
25 kids and look forward to doing it next year.
There was something for everyone.
Thank you to our volunteers Crafts
Games
Music
Movies
Snacks
Friday, November 29
WOW Advent Brunch
Saturday, December 7
Stable Communion
Nelson Petting Zoo
Saturday,
December 7
Fair Fervor Worship, Sunday, December 1 11:00am
Caroling Knute Nelson
Wednesday, December 18
2019 Christmas Dinner
Sunday, December 8
Special Children’s Sermon
Sunday, December 22
Candlelight Worship
Sunday, December 24
1St Annual Blue Christmas
Thursday, December 19
Pastor Nate Hanson held our
1st annual Blue Christmas
Worship Service. A service
intended for those who may
have lost someone during the
year, but also for those who
struggle with the Christmas
Season for any reason. We had approximately 24
people who participated. Praise God for being
able to offer this opportunity to our community.
Augustana District News
The Augustana District Newsletter is packed full of wonderful stories and information. The en-
tire newsletter can be found on our webpage: https://www.livingwordalexmn.org/
augustana_district_newsletter or click on the link sent to you with this newsletter if you are
reading this electronically
Baptism
Sunday, December 29
WOW Women of the Word ** Please note change of date for January.
WOW Bible will meet Thursday, January 9, at 2:00 p.m. We will continue with Lesson 9,
Living With a King, from John, Old Places New Faces by Sola Publishing. Lesson leader this
month is Carla Beem. WOW Dates for 2020
Thursday, April 23 — Box Supper
Thursday, June 18 — Summer Event
Thursday September 10 — Salad Supper
Thank you
Thank you
to our congregation
for helping make all the
events in December
successful.
LWLC
Thank you Living Word Lutheran for the pleasure of worshipping with you on Nov.
24th and the opportunity to share how God is transforming our local community
through the Body of Christ--Love INC of Douglas County! I appreciated the many
warm conversations before and after service, and I look forward to our continued
partnership in 2020.look forward to our continued partnership in 2020!
Special thanks also to the youth and adults that served at Love Inc on Oct. 30th.
What a respectful group of young adults—the future of our church!!
Blessings to you,
Tammy Boushek , Love INC Director
KID’S CORNER Youth 2nd Grade & Younger Meets: Second Sunday of the Month
Time: Following Sunday Morning Worship
Biblical craft to make and take home!
LWLC Youth
January 2020
WEDNESDAY, Jan 8th
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 3 Days of Prayer & Gospels
Sunday, Jan 12th 10:15am
Kids Corner
WEDNESDAY, Jan 15th 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Gospels Quiz
WEDNESDAY, Jan 22nd
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Youth Group
WEDNESDAY, Jan 29th
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Paul’s Letters
After Caroling at Knute Nelson
Care Center the Youth returned to
LWLC for a lesson, wrapping pre-
Featured this month : 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
90 Minutes in Heaven 90 Minutes in Heaven is subtitled “A True Story of Life and Death.” Written by Don Piper, a Baptist preacher from Houston, Texas, the story chronicles his “90 minutes in Heaven” and his struggles to survive after a severe car ac-cident he experienced on his return from a statewide church convention.
This book, written with the assistance of a successful biographer, Cecil Murphey, was published finally in 2004, 15 years after the accident. Told in the first person, Piper describes, in his own words, events from the moment of the horrific accident, through his “90 minutes in Heaven” experience, his subsequent pain-filled recovery, his bouts with resulting severe depression, and his extreme dependence on other people for every facet of life.
But finally, and most importantly, he tells how God changed his life and his perspective, using him to to help oth-ers who were going through similar painful experiences, or to help others with their understanding of Heaven. The farther one reads in this fascinating story, the more intense it becomes. The “heavenly” experience is significant, but the change in Piper’s life and attitude resulting from the accident and subsequent depression and recovery is the real focus of the book.
He closes the book by saying, “I am here, I am alive, and it’s because God’s purposes have not yet been fulfilled in my life. When God is finished with me, I’ll return to the place I yearn to be.”
You can find this book on display or under #248 in our LWLC library.
Library News
Volunteer Opportunities If you have gotten your Time and Talent Sheets in, Thank you. If not, it is not too late.
Don’t wait and think someone else will step up. Many hands, make little work.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have
received to serve others, as faithful stewards of
God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
January 9, 2020 ~ 1-7 pm
Blood Drive sponsored by Alexandria
Area High School Robotics Team
From our LWLC President
President’s Notes, January 2020
Happy New Year! The calendar changes to an exciting new year for us at Living Word. But before we
get started we need to wrap up year 2019. Our annual meeting is scheduled immediately after worship on
January 26, 2020 followed by a potluck brunch. With 2019 behind us, all committees need to complete
their work and submit their annual reports to our Admin Assistant so they can be included in the Annual
Meeting Booklet. Preparing the booklet is a big job. Turn in your work in a timely fashion so Rose has
time to compile and print the booklets.
Transition Update
We expect the call process will be completed this year. We have taken time to gather our members’ opin-
ions about what we recognize as our strengths, weaknesses and yes, our fears about who and what we are.
After the worship service January 19, we will have a temple talk to distribute and review a summary of our
self-assessment. The next step then in our process is to prepare for the “Visioning” phase. On or about
February 9 we plan a brief “congregational retreat” to define and discuss “Visioning”. Over succeeding
weeks, we will prayerfully consider what we believe to be God’s will for the future of this congregation.
When we arrive at a consensus, the congregation will elect a call committee of seven people. The commit-
tee will use our collective vision to search for pastoral candidates, one of whom will be called to lead our
congregation in the next stage of our congregational life. 2020 will be a critical and exciting time!
Augustana / LCMC Hymn sing & Fellowship
Mark your calendars: LWLC and Salem/Sauk Valley congregations are hosting a hymn sing and fellow-
ship event February 16 at 2 PM here at Living Word. We are inviting LCMC congregations from a 60-
mile radius of Alexandria. This is an opportunity to get to know our neighboring congregations. Come out
for hymn singing, entertainment and meeting our neighbors!
-Gaylen Lerohl, President
Given In Memory of: C. Wayne Kreps; Adeline & Carl Aamold, Sarah Olsonawski Nissen, Dana Kreps Willard
Given by: Sandy & Curt Aamold
Given in Memory of: Parents and Grandparents of Karen & Wayne Becker Given by: Wayne & Karen Becker
Given In Memory of: Billie Grefe (Jan’s Mom) Given by: Steve & Jan Ferguson
Given in Memory of: Our parents, Pauls’s brother, David; and Paulette’s sister, Kathleen AND
In honor of our grandchildren Given by: Paul & Paulette Johnson
Given in Memory of: Mary & Jim Wright (Rose’s parents); Mike & Angeline Scalise and Austie & Arthur Wright
(Rose’s grandparents); and Edwin & Lilly Johnson (Scott’s grandparents) AND in honor of their daughters &
Grandchildren Given by: Scott, Rose & Hannah Johnson
Given in Memory of: Arlo & Mary Lon Kluver, Dave Knecht AND in honor of: Jane Knecht
Given by: Laurie & A.J. Kluver
Given in Memory of: Dave & Julie Floen; Arnold & Cora Stoen; and Karen Floen
Given by: Ron & Jeanette Stoen
Given in Memory of: Odilia & Marvin Roers Given by: Marvelle & Ed Weispfennig
Thank you for the Poinsettias decorating the Sanctuary for Christmas
Church Life
Need a ride to worship or other church activities?
Please call the team who lives closest to your location.
4541 Arbor Crossing SE, Alexandria
Gary DeSha 1/10
Marv Gravley 1/13
Cindy Forbrook 1/15
Terri Elsey 1/17
Dirk Hagedon 1/17
Julie Massmann 1/22
Jeanette Stoen 1/22
Jean Ricks 1/23
Tonia Hagedon 1/26
Henry Anderson 1/27
Trygg Baily 1/28
Carolyn Fiskness 1/28
Rose Johnson 1/30
Jeremiah Denke 1/31
Financial .
2019 Financial Report: November Year to Date
Attendance: 353
General Offering $ 14,528 $ 159,660
Actual Expenses $ 12,453 $ 161,638
Net: $ 2,075 $ ( 1,978)
Building Fund Offering $ 9,381 $ 70,807
Building Debt Remaining $ 225,619 $ 225,619
Closures and Cancellations
With Minnesota winter weather starting its never
ending surprises, stay up to date. We will announce
closure and cancellations on our home page of our
website and also on Facebook.
Want Something in the Newsletter??? There is a lot of great things happening at LWLC.
Be sure to get your pictures and information to Rose as soon as possible.
JANUARY CELEBRATIONS
BIRTHDAYS
January Worship Helpers 5 12 19 26
Communion Praise Band Communion
Reader Shelly Nelson Marvelle Weispfennig Dave Moeller Julie Massmann
Ushers Harold Withers
Kathy Withers
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Wayne Becker
Karen Becker
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Gregg Stoen
Dave Moeller
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Julie Massmann
Laverne Floen
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Greeters Deloris Peterson
Elder Peterson
Gayle Nemmers
Bonnie Pahan
Marv Gravley
Janet Gravley
Bill Finley
Shirley Finley
Altar Preparation Susan Polson
Coffee and
Refreshments
Shirley Finley
Sandy Aamold
Karen Kirckof
Carolyn Brewster
Bonnie Pahan
Lou Ann Peterson
Deloris Peterson
Kathy Withers
Coffee Prep Sandy Aamold Carolyn Brewster Lou Ann Peterson Kathy Withers
Pianist Karen Kirckof Laurie Kluver Carolyn Moeller Karen Kirckof
Assist Counting
Offering
Kathy Withers Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson
Gaylen Lerohl
Sound System
Paul Johnson John Kirckof Dave Anderson Wayne Becker
Laverne Floen
Power Point Dan Engebretson Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson Gayle Nemmers
Communion
Preparation
Susan Polson,
Lou Ann Peterson
N/A
Susan Polson,
Lou Ann Peterson
N/A
Communion
Servers
Curt Aamold
Tonia Hagedon
Gaylen Lerohl
N/A Nancy Anderson
Steve Ferguson
Bill Finley
N/A
Communion
Assistant
Cindy Lerohl N/A
Angie Anderson N/A
Communion
Bread
Kay Elvehjem N/A
Laurie Kluver N/A
If you need a replacement please call someone from the schedule to switch with you and notify the office of the changes. Thank you!
FebruaryWorship Helpers 2 9 16 23
Communion Praise Band Communion
Reader Laurie Kluver Gaylen Lerohl Tonia Hagedon Carolyn Brewster
Ushers Dave Anderson
Nancy Anderson
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Terry Berger
Erling Berger
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Dan Engebretson
Steve Ferguson
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Bill Finley
Curt Aamold
Jim Nelson
Doyle Polson
Greeters Brad Forbrook
Jean Ricks
Jeanette Stoen
Ron Stoen
Harold Withers
Kathy Withers
Dean Peterson
Lou Ann Peterson
Altar Prep Angie Anderson
Coffee and
Refreshments
Mary Jo Redfield
Karen Kirckof
Jean Ricks
Barb Engebretson
Kay Elvehjem
Nancy Anderson
Erling Berger
Terry Berger
Coffee Prep Denise Stoen Barb Engebretson Kay Elvehjem Erling Berger
Pianist Karen Kirckof Nancy Anderson Nancy Anderson Carolyn Moeller
Assist
Counting
Offering
Kathy Withers Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson
Gaylen Lerohl
Sound System
Paul Johnson John Kirckof Dave Anderson Wayne Becker/Laverne
Floen
Power Point Dan Engebretson Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson Gayle Nemmers
Communion
Preparation
Cindy Lerohl N/A
Cindy Lerohl N/A
Communion
Servers
Cindy Lerohl
Laurie Kluver
Gregg Stoen
N/A Dave Anderson
Gaylen Lerohl
Lou Ann Peterson
N/A
Communion
Assistant
Doyle Polson N/A
Marvelle Weispfennig N/A
Communion
Bread
Cindy Lerohl N/A
Gayle Neemers N/A
If you need a replacement please call someone from the schedule to switch with you and notify the office of the changes. Thank you!